Cameron, only 16
years old, was introduced to a photographer at a Hollywood party,
and within a week she had signed a contract with the Elite
Modeling Agency. Diaz spent the next five years touring the globe
and eventually settled into a Hollywood apartment with video
producer Carlos de La Torre with whom she carried on a five year
relationship. But modeling was not enough for Cameron. She
debuted in 1994's "The Mask" opposite Jim Carrey. The movie received a lot of
attention and many wondered what the beautiful blue-eyed blonde
would do next.
Her next movie was
set to be "Mortal Kombat" but Diaz injured her wrist
karate-chopping her trainer's head in preparation for the role
and had to back out of the movie. Diaz ran off with her
brother-in-law, played by Keanu Reeves, in "Feeling
Minnesota"; she slept
with brothers Edward Burns and Mike McGlone in "She's the One"; and perhaps most difficult of all to
believe, she played Harvey Keitel's wife in "Head Above
Water". The National
Association of Theater Owners acknowledged her string of indie
triumphs by naming her the N.A.T.O./ShoWest Female Star of
Tomorrow.
Diaz returned to the big studio movies in "My Best Friend's Wedding", opposite Julia Roberts. Rave reviews followed and it appeared that Diaz had made the transition from model to actress. Her next movie, "A Life Less Ordinary" was not as well received. Diaz seemed to corner the Hollywood market however with her role in "There's Something About Mary". Critics and audiences agreed that the movie was a hit, and Diaz was the shining star. Diaz and Matt Dillon, her boyfriend of nearly three years, have recently split.
